Floods

Flooding in the western world often follows a predictable trajectory. There are forecasts of torrential rain, perhaps on already saturated land. Flood warnings are issued sporadically as rain pours down (often in ‘record levels’). In a matter of hours, man’s most useful and necessary tool becomes one of his worst enemies as lakes and rivers burst their banks and rise onto farmland and residential areas.

Cars, boats and other items are carried along by the torrent and left stranded and damaged. Often people are left in the same conditon. Some may even die in the flood waters. In the wider world, public transport is disrupted. Sandbags are filled but still the water comes into the houses and businesses. The electricity has to be switched off and valuables have to be taken upstairs. Where possible there is special assistance for the senior citizens and disabled. The water enters the property and rises by perhaps some feet soaking all in its path. In extreme cases maybe there is a need for a helicopter rescue from the roof and to stay somewhere else for the time being. On farms with flooded fields animals may well have to be brought in or food taken to them if they are stranded.

Then there is the clear up. Where the floods have been the properties are probably soiled by the mud and stench. Items have been pushed around the home and furniture is soaked. Rescue operations are started by government and other agencies. Relief has to be distributed and worse than that, perhaps some people are tracing missing relatives. Then there is the contact with the insurance company.

After all that there is the repairing and repainting etc before we get back to “normal”. We would like the house or business premises to be as good as it was before the flood, if not better … but this takes time, effort and money.

…….. and all this is perhaps before the next time. After a main road was expanded and since 2001 the village of Wendlebury, in Oxfordshire, has had five floods. Other parts of our country and the world also suffer from repeated flooding.

While we do need somewhere to live, is life just a round of building or rebuilding what has been brought down? Is it really a question of material increase? Is it just a cycle of work, life etc which can become wearisome? Perhaps you have become bitter and cynical because through this you have failed to succeed as you had originally planned.

Do you feel unfulfilled, unsatisfied and perhaps unhappy? Is there an empty hole inside you? Do you feel that something is missing but you do not know what that is? Is there a peace and security missing in your life that you desire? Are you always on the go seeking a better life because where you are is not really doing anything for you?

Most of us try to substitute for it. We plan and/or buy something new or start a new relationship which might make us feel better for a while, but eventually those feelings of newness and completeness fade and leave us where we were before. We try to fill that hole in our hearts with anything under the sun but they are all symptoms of an unfulfilled heart.

The hole inside you is a “God shaped gap”. You will never be truly satisfied until you know the perfect and everlasting work of God in your life. You will never be truly at peace and secure until you know Him. However the various attitudes in your life, e.g. self centeredness, pride, lust, selfishness have got in the way. Whatever you try to do, if you ignore these life problems, then you will remain unfulfilled. If you will recognize these characteristics, which God calls sin, and turn to God from them then you can fill your hole.

You do that by recognizing that you have sinned and therefore are a sinner. You have broken God’s laws and therefore these sins separate you from God.

However even though you are spiritually dead in your trespasses and sins God still loves you and proved it by “the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.” (1 John chapter (c ) 4 verse (v) 14). As “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy c1v15) He took the punishment of our sins when He “died for our sins according to the {Old Testament} scriptures; and that He was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures” (1 Corinthians c15v3-4). “That whosoever believes in {i.e. totally relies on} Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” (John’s Gospel c3v15)

After you have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour you will then know a peace, security and joy that you will find nowhere else because you will have trusted in the only Person Who completely satisfied God about your sin. You will receive “the gift of God” which is “eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans c6v23) and so begin to know and experience Him for Whom you were created. He will also help you in life.